Working in a call center as a telemarketer is not an easy job. Your position likely requires you to spend long hours on the phones, logging into computer systems, participating in trainings, completing calls that last longer than their scheduled hours, and completing paperwork. Often, these hours will end up adding up to more than 40 hours per week. Fortunately, many telemarketers are entitled to receive overtime compensation when this occurs.

6 Tips Every Telemarketer Must Know About Overtime Compensation

If you are a telemarketer, it is important that you arm yourself with knowledge about your legal rights relating to overtime compensation. The following are six important tips to keep in mind:

The Fair Labor Standards Act dictates that many employees are entitled to overtime compensation when they work more than 40 hours per week.

When overtime compensation applies, the pay rate is time-and-a-half, or 1.5 times the employee’s regular pay rate.

Even if your overtime hours were not authorized by your employer or if it is against company policy, if you work more than 40 hours, you are entitled to overtime compensation.

Some employers may calculate overtime compensation improperly if they take overtime worked during one week and apply it to another week.

Some employers may simply pay the employee the regular rate of pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a given week instead of paying those hours at a rate of time-and-a-half.

In particularly egregious violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, some unethical employers may even alter their employees’ timesheets. It is critical for employees to pay close attention to these details in order to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.

Fortunately for telemarketers and other employees who have not received the overtime compensation that they are entitled to may have a claim against their employer for unpaid wages. If you are successful, you may be able to recover two to three years’ worth of compensation. In most cases, your employer will resist having to make this payment. Fortunately, we are here to help. When you are ready to begin learning more about this process, we encourage you to check out our free guide, The 10 Biggest Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Wage & Overtime Claim.